HC Deb 10 February 1958 vol 582 cc13-5
21. Mr. Hale

asked the Minister of Pensions and National Insurance what degree of deafness is necessary under the rules relating to disability pensions to justify a finding of 10 per cent. total disability.

The Minister of Pensions and National Insurance (Mr. John Boyd-Carpenter)

Under the Industrial Injuries Acts, which I understand the hon. Member has in mind, total deafness is assessed by regulation at 100 per cent. Consequently, medical boards and medical appeal tribunals make assessments for partial deafness on the basis of the proportionate degree of loss of hearing.

Mr. Hale

Is the right hon. Gentleman aware that that is not my experience or the experience of any of my colleagues on this side of the House? Is he further aware that cases are constantly arising of men who are seriously deaf, who in these days of increasing unemployment are debarred from work and are getting assessments of 10 per cent., 15 per cent., or 20 per cent.? Will the right hon. Gentleman look into it?

Mr. Boyd-Carpenter

As the hon. Gentleman knows, these assessments are made by the independent statutory authorities under the Act. I have certainly no reason to believe that there is any truth in any general assertion of that sort.

22. Mr. Hale

asked the Minister of Pensions and National Insurance on what ground a medical appeal tribunal is authorised to assume pre-existing disability in a case in which all the evidence is to the effect that no pre-existing disability was ever present.

Mr. Boyd-Carpenter

None. Sir.

Mr. Hale

Is the right hon. Gentleman aware that we are constantly getting cases of a pension that is refused to a man who was medically passed A.1, on the ground that he made to a medical officer a statement which he denies and which has never been recorded on his papers, suggesting that he had some illness before service? This is really becoming a grave public scandal, and will the Minister look into it?

Mr. Boyd-Carpenter

The only case which the hon. Gentleman has specifically drawn to my attention was a case where there undoubtedly was evidence, which the adjudicating bodies accepted, that there was a pre-existing disability. If the hon. Gentleman is going to make general charges of this sort, I must ask him to show me evidence.

Mr. Hale

Is the right hon. Gentleman aware that I have at least half a dozen such cases, and in the case to which he refers the man was passed A.1 after an examination? In those circumstances, what right has anybody to refuse him a pension on the ground that he made a statement that he had an illness ten years before?

Mr. Boyd-Carpenter

In that case, the pension was not refused—it was granted. The assessment depended on the acceptance of evidence both of a specialist and of X-ray photographs, which showed in the opinion of the adjudicating body that there was a preexisting disability.